Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D., Founder & President ▾

Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, J.D, is Founder and President of G.L.O.B.A.L Justice, an international non-profit organization with a vision to inform, impact, and inspire the generations to learn, lead, and do justice together. With 30+ years of experience in human rights advocacy and 15+ years as a university professor, Sosamma has focused the work of G.L.O.B.A.L. on serving as a significant resource on issues of justice worldwide. G.L.O.B.A.L. was established in 2014 to help inform the community on international justice concerns, prepare community members and leaders to pursue justice, promote advocacy organizations addressing global injustices, and support educational institutions preparing the next generation of advocates. G.L.O.B.A.L.’s mission is to extend geopolitical learning opportunities for biblical advocacy and leadership to help the local, national, and international communities pursue justice ethically, creatively, and collaboratively.

Before establishing G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice, Sosamma moved to Northern Colorado in August 2013 after 12 years in public policy and higher education in Northern California. She served for nearly a decade as Founder and Chair of the Public Policy Department and also Founder and Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute both at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California. She also previously served as Co-Director for the Sacramento-based California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the largest state-wide association of its kind in the country, as well as U.S. Program Director for the Institute for Food and Development Policy in Oakland. Previously, Sosamma served as the Program Director for the U.S. Racial Discrimination Program at International Human Rights Law Group in Washington, DC, as well as Development and Policy Director and Mexico Project Director for the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis. Sosamma also served in a range of policy and advocacy organizations, law firms, and public affairs and media firms in Washington, DC, Minneapolis/St.Paul, and Tupelo, Mississippi.

Sosamma earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, with a concentration in International Politics: Law, Relations, & Organization, from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. She also earned a Juris Doctorate, with an emphasis in International Human Rights Law and Public Policy, from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis, MN.

For most of her professional career, Sosamma served as an international advocate and policy consultant focusing on human rights concerns. Her human rights professional experiences include:

• Serving as a Human Rights Fellow to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Conducting first of their kind policy studies and advocacy conferences in the U.S. and in Latin America on issues such as: global child survival, sexual slavery, economic/social rights, conflict resolution, housing & education for vulnerable populations, and the intersection of race and poverty.
• Facilitating high level human rights meetings and programs with Heads of States, UN officials, U.S. Senators and Congressional representatives, and state and local officials.

Through her professional experiences, Sosamma has worked on a range of human rights topics affecting vulnerable populations, including anti-trafficking, discrimination, poverty, and violence. She served on the Board of Directors for Agape International Mission, a leading advocacy organization focusing on ending sex trafficking in Cambodia and across the globe, from 2007-2020. She served as AIM Board Chair for 10 years providing leadership to the organization’s global advocacy and programs for survivors. She has also collaborated with several organizations and institutions on anti-human trafficking related initiatives including with 3Strands Global, Caged No More film, Courage Worldwide, Center for Global Justice at Regent School of Law, Exodus Cry and Nefarious film, Human Rights Center at Trinity Law School, Human Rights Center at University of Minnesota Law School, Run for Courage, Global Center for Women & Justice, Freedom Project, Free Our Girls, Larimer County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Table Group.

Sosamma has also previously served as Board Secretary for Shoulder-to-Shoulder, an advocacy organization addressing fatherlessness among urban youth in Sacramento. She has been actively involved in other organizations, programs, and Boards that support less advantaged youth including WIND, YES and DC Schools Program. She has also supported or advised many other advocacy organizations throughout the country and around the globe.

In addition to her support of advocacy organizations, Sosamma has been active in many community and public education programs. In California, she served on the Community Advisory Board for PBS Television. In 2015 and 2016, Sosamma served as the Chair of the National Day of Prayer of Northern Colorado, and continued to serve on the Planning Committee in 2017-2019. She has been a member of the School and District Accountability Committees and GT Advisory Committees for Carrie Martin Elementary, Walt Clark Middle School, Thompson Valley High School, and Thompson School District in Loveland, Colorado. Sosamma also serves in several other advisory and consulting capacities for various organizations and committees around the region and around the globe.

Sosamma and her family attend Grace Place Church in Berthoud, Colorado and previously attended Foundations Church in Loveland, Colorado where they continue to support. G.L.O.B.A.L. partners with Grace Place in the GLBL MRKT which was estabished in September 2019. The GLBL MRKT educates on regional justice concerns, highlights the work of advocacy organizations around the world, and shares international artisan wares. G.L.O.B.A.L. has also partnered with Foundations Church to provide community suicide prevention forums. While in California, Sosamma was a member of Adventure Christian Church and served as Founder and Chair of the Global Missions Program at Adventure Christian Church of North Natomas. Through that program, she supported the establishment of Christian churches, Bible schools, and humanitarian efforts in Bihar, India; Zimbabwe, Africa; and Haiti as well as provide emergency relief for disasters in the U.S. and around the world.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Sosamma has received a number of awards, honors, and recognitions, including most recently as a 2019 nominee for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in Denver, 2018 International Woman of Vision Award from the Colorado Women of Influence, 2017 and 2018 nominee for the L’Oreal Woman of Worth Award, 2013 California Assembly Resolution in recognition of achievement in public policy, 2012 Rocklin Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s award, 2012 Commendation Award from the Placer County Board of Supervisors, 2011 Placer Board of Economic Development Innovative Achievement Award, 2011 California State Senate Certificate of Recognition for the establishment of the Public Policy Institute.

Sosamma was born in Kerala, India. During her early school years, she lived throughout Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada, and in her later school years in the Lake Minnetonka region of Minnesota. She and her husband, Major Zack Samuel-Burnett, a former U.S. Air Force U-2 mission pilot and current Southwest Airlines Captain, are proud parents of a 16-year old son and twin 11-year old daughters.

LAUREN MOUSTAKAS J.D., Research Associate, Monthly Features

Lauren Moustakas joined G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice in September 2015 to provide research support, website support, share her passion for justice, and help address the injustices in our world. In September 2017, Lauren’s role with G.L.O.B.A.L. expanded to include the areas of Advocacy and Education, Events, support for G.L.O.B.A.L.’s Development work, and the Women Empowering Women Project Associate. Lauren is currently a Research Associate for our monthly features and works remotely from Hawaii.

Lauren attended William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA, graduated with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in Bible & Theology, and was selected the outstanding graduate in her program. Prior to her work with G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice, Lauren worked as the Production Manager at Gilliard Blanning and Associates, a political consulting firm in the Sacramento area.

Lauren was called to attend Regent Universty School of Law in 2018 to become further equipped to be a voice for others. During law school she worked for the Regent Law School's Center for Human Rights and Rule of Law as a Law Clerk and completed legal projects on behalf of organizations such as International Justice Mission and The National Center on Sexual Exploitation. While a Law Student, Lauren served as a legal intern with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, University of the Nations General Counsel's Office, Jubilee Campaign U.S.A, and the European Centre for Law and Justice. Throughout her time in law school and in each of these opportunities, Lauren's focus was on human rights and protecting the vulnerable from exploitation through the law. After graduation, she became licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and served as an immigration attorney in the DC/VA area. She is currently clerking with a judge in Kona, Hawaii.

Greer Newman, Special Projects Associate ▾

Greer joined G.L.O.B.A.L in January 2015 to support multimedia and other key aspects of G.L.O.B.A.L’s work. With her strong passion for the wellness and rights of others, she is a positive millennial voice for the work of G.L.O.B.A.L. Since Fall 2014, Greer has been employed with a group that equips and supports those with severe and long-term disabilities.

From 2011-2014, Greer worked in Customer Relations and Quality Assurance in San Luis Obispo at Trust Automation, a locally owned and operated a small business that won 2013 Central California Small Business of the Year. Greer received a B.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in Law & Policy and a minor in Bible & Theology from William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA. During her studies, Greer distinguished herself as student body president, participated in the American Studies program in Washington, DC, and was selected as the outstanding graduate in her program. Greer Newman was raised in Santa Maria, California. She and her husband now enjoy the diversity and opportunities in the Bay Area.

Yevgeniy Pislar, Research Associate ▾

Yevgeniy Pislar was born in Izmayil, Ukraine. In 1995, he along with his immediate family arrived in the United States of America as refugees. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Jessup University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and a Minor in Bible and Theology. After graduating, he worked for Gemini Duplication, Inc. a legal software firm in Rocklin CA.

Yevgeniy also had the opportunity to travel to Romania on mission trips on three separate occasions (in the summers of 2013-2015), serving in a leadership capacity on the last trip. In Romania, he was able to work with orphans in a Christian orphanage called Remember the Children and visit a state-run orphanage and transition home. Furthermore, he was able to work with the Gypsy (Roma) community on all three trips. Yevgeniy was invited to join the Peace Corps and served in Uganda. He is currently a 2nd year law student at McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, CA. Yev will bring his international experience and passion for justice to his role in researching global concerns.

Ujunwa Okeke – Graduate Fellow, Environmental Sustainability ▾

Ujunwa is a native of Nigeria, Africa, who has dedicated her work and studies to environmental justice concerns. She hold a Master’s degree from Colorado State University with a concentration in Environmental Communication and a BSc degree in Environmental Sciences. Ujunwa has worked as a teaching assistant for “JTC 100-Media in Society”, teaching, grading, and providing out-of-class support for more than 100 students from diverse backgrounds. She was also a sustainability intern with the Housing and Dining Services in the Communication and Sustainability department at C.S.U where she oversaw writing and editing a monthly sustainability-focused article that goes on the website for students, staff, and faculty members to read and learn how to live a sustainable lifestyle. She assisted in various environmental policies, including writing the Annual Sustainability Report. Currently, Ujunwa works as a Frontline Representative at Greenpeace, a non-profit environmental organization. She helps educate people about various environmental issues by using different communication strategies, encouraging people to lead a sustainable lifestyle either by donating their money or services. Ujunwa brings her commitment to addressing communities injustices affecting marginalized communities, to her work as a Fellow with G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice. Staring in September 2019 she will be conducting a research project on how waste disposal policies, facilities, and locations negatively impact low income communities.

Sarah Bond – Fellow, Child Advocacy ▾

Sarah Bond is joining us this January through May as a Fellow in Advocacy for Refugees and Children. Sarah is a certified life, leadership, and home organization coach and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Simpson University and a master’s in Urban Community Development from Eastern University. She has enjoyed a blend of vocations in the last few years, including Human Trafficking Prevention Educator for 3Strands Global and co-founder of a non-profit, Voice of Courage, that develops leaders—especially women—through retreats, team development trainings, and meetups. Her continued passion is to champion women and children for empowerment, sustainability, and resilience in the face of complex sources of trauma. Today she focuses her energy on life coaching women who are change agents in their community, vocal performance as a vehicle of art and change, and social justice research on the challenges faced by unaccompanied minor children who are navigating Health and Human Services detainment facilities. Her greatest joys are cultivating hope and transformation in women in her community, working towards greater wholeness in the world, and raising her two active young boys alongside her adventure partner and husband, Scott, in Northern California.

Vanessa Ruiz – Graduate Fellow, Education Policy ▾

Vanessa Ruiz is committed to student success inside of the classroom and in life, through creating meaningful relationships.Vanessa holds a Master's Degree and Administration Credential from Point Loma Nazarene University (2018) and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy from William Jessup (2014). Currently, she is a lead teacher in the Math Department, at Lemon Grove Academy, and teaches ELD Math through project-based learning while serving as the Director of Student Leadership. Addinatilly, Vanessa currently serves as a member of the Principal's Instructional Leadership Team, chairperson for the Climate and Culture Committee and a RISE UPP Fellow. She previously served as a teacher with Teach for America, a highly selective program that places high achieving graduates in some of the most challenging educational environments. Vanessa will bring her educational commitment and experience to serving as a Fellow with G.LO.B.A.L. Justice. Starting in January 2020, she will be conducting a research project on how social and emotional learning can help mitigate interrelated legacies of racal and class oppression.